Carpet tack strip

ABSTRACT

A carpet tack strip of plastic material having tack-like elements projecting angularly from the top surface thereof and having spacer means along one edge to provide accurate spacing from a base board. The tack-like members may be either embedded or driven through the plastic or struck-up from a metal insert that extends through a dove-tailed groove on the top of the plastic strip. Holes extend through the strip for driving nails therethrough for anchoring it to the floor.

O Unlted States Patent 1151 3,673,633

Frebraro July 4, 1972 [54] CARPET TACK STRIP 1,173,678 2/1916 Munro ..52/173 [72] Inventor: James Frebraro, 540 ldlewood Road, Pitt- L043 M891 Grommet b h P 15235 3,092,869 6/l963 Stump S 1 1,472,521 10/1923 Harrison ..l6/4 [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1969 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay PP 860,323 Assistant Examiner-Doris L. Troutman Attorney-William J. Ruano [52] U.S.Cl ..l6/l6 511 1111.01 ..A47g 27/04 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..16/4-16; 52/173, A carpet tack strip of plastic material having tack-like ele- 52/98 ments projecting angularly from the top surface thereof and having spacer means along one edge to provide accurate spac- 5 Ref ren Cited ing from a base board. The tack-like members may be either embedded or driven through the plastic or struck-up from a UNITED STATES PATENTS metal insert that extends through a dove-tailed groove on the top of the plastic strip. l-loles extend through the strip for driv- 3,528,123 9/1970 D1peles1 ..l6/l6 th h fl 3,353,204 11/1967 Hi lllll n mgnalsthere roughfor anchormgl tot e oor.

967,542 8/1910 Munro 16/16 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEnJuL 41912 3,673,633

SHEETIUFZ v i I 8 \v 7 k X\ k- Q T v l 3 4 3 2 4 INVENTOR.

JAMES FREE RA RO his ATTORNEY PATENTEUJUL 4 I972 3.673633 SHEET 2 0F 2 j 20 2/3 h 26 F INVENTOR.

JAMES FREBRARO w ew his ATTORNEY CARPET TACK STRIP This invention relates to a tack strip for anchoring carpets.

Commonly used tack strips for carpets are of wood with nails driven therethrough for tacking the backing of the carpet adjacent the base board. Such strips have various disadvantages. The long lengths thereof make shipping and handling difficult and the strips tend to splinter from handling.

Another disadvantage is the high cost of such wooden strips.

Still another disadvantage is that considerable installation time is consumed in measuring the required spacing between the strip and the base board.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel carpet tack strip of plastic material which is devoid of all of the abovenamed disadvantages.

A more sPecifrc object of the present invention is to provide a novel carpet tack strip of plastic material having spacing means as a component part of the strip and having tack-like elements emerging angularly from the top surface for penetrating the backing of the carpet.

Another specific object of the present invention is toprovide a composite or laminated plastic and metallic strip which has rigid and very durable tack-like elements struck up from the metallic strip portion so as to provide reliable operation and long life.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a plastic carpet tack strip embodying the principles of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view thereof;

FIG. 3 shows the plastic strip of FIGS. 1 and 2 wrapped into roll form; v

FIG. 4 is a vertical, cross-sectional view showing how the strip cooperates with the pad, baseboard and carpet;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing how the plastic strip is laid by unwinding the roll;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a modification of the plastic strip wherein the top is grooved to receive a metallic strip;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the metallic strip which is inserted in the groove of FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of plastic strip shown in FIG. 6 and the metallic strip shown in FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 9 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of a modification for use on steps.

Referring more particularly to FIG. I of the drawing, numeral 1 generally denotes a carpet tack strip of the present invention made of a suitable plastic material, such as polyester. Strip 1 has a top surface portion 2 and a side portion 3 which is undercut at 9 as shown in FIG. 2. The opposite side portion is.

inclined at an angle of about 45 to 60. The bottom surface 40 is preferably roughened or grooved to better store glue or other adhesive. A plurality of tapered grooves 4 extend crosswise of the bottom of the strip and may be spaced at convenient intervals apart, such as about 6 inches apart, for the purpose of making the strip sufficiently flexible to enable wrapping into roll form 10, as shown in FIG. 3.

A plurality of tacks or nails 5 are embedded in the strip or driven therethrough preferably at an angle of about 60 with the top surface, as shown in FIG. 2. Spacer nails or pins 8 are provided at intervals, say about 6 inches apart, and are of about 1% inches in length to provide equivalent spacing from the base board 16 shown in FIG. 4. The strip may also be provided with vertically extending holes through which nails 6 may be driven so as to nail strip 1 to the floor.

FIG. 4 shows an assembly comprising the strip 1 and pad 13 adjacent one side thereof with the spacer elements 8 defining the proper spacing from a base board 16. The backing of a rug 14 isanchored by the tacks 5 so that the rug portion 15 may be tucked into the space beyond the edge of the strip.

FIG. 5 shows how a roll 10 of the plastic strip may be unrolled adjacent the base board 16 preparatory to nailing the strip down.

FIGS. 6 to 8 inclusive show a modification of the plastic strip, which may be of polyester, polystyrene or any other suitable plastic material 20 and provided with a dove-tailed groove 21 on the top surface thereof through which may be longitudinally slid a metal strip 23, preferably of steel, having sharp, pin-like elements 24 struck up therefrom at intervals of about one-half inch apart and staggered. The metal inserts 23 are preferably about one-sixteenth inch thick and threeeighths inches wide at the base.

The strip 20 is made of extruded plastic material of flutted or grooved design, that is, wherein, by the extrusion process, the dove-tailed groove 21 is made, together with a plurality of longitudinal grooves or flutes 26 for reducing the amount of plastic material used. Through vertical holes 25, nails 25' may be inserted through the strip 20. Spacer strip 22 of cardboard or plastic material may be adhered to the bottom surface of strip 20 and extend along the entire length of the strip for measuring the spacing between the inclined edge of the strip and the baseboard. The inclined edge is preferably about 60. To save material, however, such strips 22 may be about five-sixteenths inch wide and may be adhered only at spaced intervals, as shown in FIG. 6, such as about 8 inches apart. Such strips 22 may be integrally bonded to strip 20 if desired.

FIG. 9 shows a still further modification involving the use of two units shown in FIG. 8 formed into one integral unit having a common angle spacer strip 22 which is to be positioned against the riser of a pair of steps. Such plastic strips 20 are thus a measured distance from the apex of the spacer strip 22 so that the rug 14 may be tucked into the space between the strips in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

If desired the plastic strip 20 may be provided with V- shaped notches such as 4 in FIG. 1 to enable it to be wrapped into roll form.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an efficient carpet tack strip of plastic or plastic and metal with tacks emerging from the top portion thereof for securely penetrating the backing of a rug and firmly holding it against the top surface of the strip; furthermore, I-have embodied in said strip spacer elements for assuring proper spacing with a base board or with a comer of a pair of steps when a rug is applied to the tread and riser portions of the steps; furthermore, l have provided a very inexpensive, light, strong and long life strip which will provide a reliable anchor for holding the backing of a rug in a predetermined position. While I have described the strip as'being of plastic material, which covers a very wide range of such materials, there is one plastic material which is especially unique for the purpose of the present invention, namely, foam plastic polypropylene since it has good strength, stability, lightness in weight and the unexpected result that its particular porous character enables the glue to penetrate the pores and to make a remarkably better bond when adhered to the floor.

While I have illustrated and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be better understood that these are by way of illustration only and that'various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of my invention and the following claims.

Iclaim:

l. A carpet tack strip comprising a strip of plastic material having a groove in the top surface thereof extending longitudinally of the strip, and a metal strip inserted in said groove, said metal strip having a plurality of pointed tack-like elements emerging from the top thereof for anchoring into the backing of a rug when said metal and plastic strips are anchored to a floor.

2. A carpet tack strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said groove is a dove-tailed groove and wherein said metal strip is longitudinally slipped therethrough and wherein said strips of plastic and metal are provided with registering holes through which nails may be driven to anchor the strips to the floor.

3. A carpet tack strip as recited in claim I together with spacer means extending from the bottom surface of the strip along one side edge thereof.

4. A carpet tack stripassembly for stairs comprising a right angularly extending base having adhered thereto on each right angular portion thereof plastic strips, said strips being spaced by the same amount from the apex of said base, each strip having a dove-tailed groove in the top portion through which snugly extends a metallic strip having up-struck sharp portions for penetrating the backing of a rug for anchoring the backing of a tread portion and riser portion of the rug, whereby the intervening portion of the rug may be tucked into the space between strips.

l t i t 

1. A carpet tack strip comprising a strip of plastic material having a groove in the top surface thereof extending longitudinally of the strip, and a metal strip inserted in said groove, said metal strip having a plurality of pointed tack-like elements emerging from the top thereof for anchoring into the backing of a rug when said metal and plastic strips are anchored to a floor.
 2. A carpet tack strip as recited in claim 1 wherein said groove is a dove-tailed groove and wherein said metal strip is longitudinally slipped therethrough and wherein said strips of plastic and metal are provided with registering holes through which nails may be driven to anchor the strips to the floor.
 3. A carpet tack strip as recited in claim 1 together with spacer means extending from the bottom surface of the strip along one side edge thereof.
 4. A carpet tack strip assembly for stairs comprising a right angularly extending base having adhered thereto on each right angular portion thereof plastic strips, said strips being spaced by the same amount from the apex of said base, each strip having a dove-tailed groove in the top portion through which snugly extends a metallic strip having up-struck sharp portions for penetrating the backing of a rug for anchoring the backing of a tread portion and riser portion of the rug, whereby the intervening portion of the rug may be tucked into the space between strips. 